Singer alert! Singer alert! BY ELIZABETH HAYS AND JOYCE SHELBY
Tuesday, July 15th 2008, 1:06 AM
Brooklyn concert lovers: Be on the lookout for two of your favorite singers, Liza Minnelli and Patti LaBelle, who both will be in the borough this summer giving free - repeat, free - concerts.
Popular rhythm and blues songstress LaBelle will return to Wingate Field for the Martin Luther King Concert Series on Aug. 25. Minnelli (as in Liza with a Z) will make her third appearance in the Seaside Summer Concert Series on Aug. 7.
Minnelli has a special lineup of songs planned for her fans, who have been writing her ever since her 2006 Brighton Beach concert about what they want to hear her sing, she said during a phone interview last week.
"Do you know what a wonderful thing that is?" Minnelli asked, adding that she hopes to honor every request.
And after the concert, will she once again take a ride on the Cyclone as she did after a 2005 show? Minnelli, who was born in California, didn't rule that out.
She also said a Nathan's hot dog was a possibility, because she has such fond memories of visitingConey Island as a child. Being a celebrity now doesn't matter, Minnelli said.
"I want to go to Coney Island like everybody else."
The singer said she hoped the city's plans to overhaul Coney Island won't ruin its magic.
"I think every kid should be able to look forward to going to Coney Island. It's a dream that shouldn't be taken away from children," she said.
Philadelphia native LaBelle said she delights in the summer concert series because, "Brooklyn feels like home."
"There are such nice people in Brooklyn," LaBelle said during a phone interview last week. "They're like family. When I perform there, it's like I have a hit record - even if I don't. The people don't care. They're wonderful whenever I play."
This year, she said, her fans can enjoy true oldies and new music.
"I have two new CDs," she said, adding that she has also recorded music with former LaBelle group members Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx for a project to be released this fall.
"I'll be doing some new stuff at the concert," LaBelle said, "and I also hope to have some surprises for the audience."
Both the Seaside Summer Concert Series and the Martin Luther King Concert Series were started by Borough President Marty Markowitz, when he was a member of the state Assembly. The Seaside series is celebrating its 30th year. The King series is now in its 26th.
Markowitz said the idea for the Seaside Series came to him while he was driving past Midwood Field one night on his way home from Albany.
"I thought, ¡That's the perfect place for a concert,' " Markowitz said. The first performers were musicians in a program under the direction of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA).
In 1981, Cab Calloway was the first nationally known performer to be part of the series. It moved to the beach and Asser Levy Park in 1991. Wayne Newton was the first headliner there.
While the Seaside Series features mostly pop music and salsa, the King series was started to focus on rhythm and blues, gospel and calypso.
Scheduled artists at the Seaside Series this summer include Brian Wilson, Smokey Robinson and Huey Lewis and the News. Christopher Cross will share the bill with Minnelli. The concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. each Thursday at the Asser Levy/Seaside Park, across from the New York Aquarium.
Visit www.brooklynconcerts.com/seaside.html for details.
The King concerts get underway at 7:30 p.m. on Mondays at Wingate Field, which has entrances on Brooklyn Ave. (Rutland Road and Winthrop St.). Featured artists this summer include: Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Mary Mary, Mighty Sparrow and a mystery guest who, Markowitz said, is a true legend. Visithttp://www.brooklynconcerts.com/ /mlk.html for details.
For information on either series, there is also a hotline: (718) 222-0600.
ehays@nydailynews.com
Tuesday, July 15th 2008, 1:06 AM
Brooklyn concert lovers: Be on the lookout for two of your favorite singers, Liza Minnelli and Patti LaBelle, who both will be in the borough this summer giving free - repeat, free - concerts.
Popular rhythm and blues songstress LaBelle will return to Wingate Field for the Martin Luther King Concert Series on Aug. 25. Minnelli (as in Liza with a Z) will make her third appearance in the Seaside Summer Concert Series on Aug. 7.
Minnelli has a special lineup of songs planned for her fans, who have been writing her ever since her 2006 Brighton Beach concert about what they want to hear her sing, she said during a phone interview last week.
"Do you know what a wonderful thing that is?" Minnelli asked, adding that she hopes to honor every request.
And after the concert, will she once again take a ride on the Cyclone as she did after a 2005 show? Minnelli, who was born in California, didn't rule that out.
She also said a Nathan's hot dog was a possibility, because she has such fond memories of visitingConey Island as a child. Being a celebrity now doesn't matter, Minnelli said.
"I want to go to Coney Island like everybody else."
The singer said she hoped the city's plans to overhaul Coney Island won't ruin its magic.
"I think every kid should be able to look forward to going to Coney Island. It's a dream that shouldn't be taken away from children," she said.
Philadelphia native LaBelle said she delights in the summer concert series because, "Brooklyn feels like home."
"There are such nice people in Brooklyn," LaBelle said during a phone interview last week. "They're like family. When I perform there, it's like I have a hit record - even if I don't. The people don't care. They're wonderful whenever I play."
This year, she said, her fans can enjoy true oldies and new music.
"I have two new CDs," she said, adding that she has also recorded music with former LaBelle group members Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx for a project to be released this fall.
"I'll be doing some new stuff at the concert," LaBelle said, "and I also hope to have some surprises for the audience."
Both the Seaside Summer Concert Series and the Martin Luther King Concert Series were started by Borough President Marty Markowitz, when he was a member of the state Assembly. The Seaside series is celebrating its 30th year. The King series is now in its 26th.
Markowitz said the idea for the Seaside Series came to him while he was driving past Midwood Field one night on his way home from Albany.
"I thought, ¡That's the perfect place for a concert,' " Markowitz said. The first performers were musicians in a program under the direction of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA).
In 1981, Cab Calloway was the first nationally known performer to be part of the series. It moved to the beach and Asser Levy Park in 1991. Wayne Newton was the first headliner there.
While the Seaside Series features mostly pop music and salsa, the King series was started to focus on rhythm and blues, gospel and calypso.
Scheduled artists at the Seaside Series this summer include Brian Wilson, Smokey Robinson and Huey Lewis and the News. Christopher Cross will share the bill with Minnelli. The concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. each Thursday at the Asser Levy/Seaside Park, across from the New York Aquarium.
Visit www.brooklynconcerts.com/seaside.html for details.
The King concerts get underway at 7:30 p.m. on Mondays at Wingate Field, which has entrances on Brooklyn Ave. (Rutland Road and Winthrop St.). Featured artists this summer include: Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Mary Mary, Mighty Sparrow and a mystery guest who, Markowitz said, is a true legend. Visithttp://www.brooklynconcerts.com/ /mlk.html for details.
For information on either series, there is also a hotline: (718) 222-0600.
ehays@nydailynews.com
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